Varna Travel Guide

Varna is the third-largest city in Bulgaria and is a major tourist destination, especially during the summertime when its beautiful beaches fill up with visitors. Varna has a bunch of interesting historical sites, but it is mostly a summer destination. It’s commonly known as the “sea capital” of Bulgaria. I had a lot of fun here wandering the streets, meandering through the vast central park, and sunning myself on the beach. At night, the bars and nightlife heave with tourists and locals looking to enjoy their summer holiday. It may not be an off-the-beaten-path destination, but it’s a fun one and definitely worth a visit. If you only have time to hit one beach town, pick Varna!

Top 5 Things to See and Do in Varna

1. Primorski Park

Established in 1878, this park stretches for 5 miles — it is the largest of its kind in Europe. There is always something going on here, and there are several cafés located nearby, in addition to an aquarium and a summer theater.

2. Tour the churches

Varna has a good collection of Eastern Orthodox Churches. Pay a visit to Theotokos Panagia, the Assumption of Mary Cathedral, or the Church of St. Nicholas the Miracle Worker. As another option, head out of town to see the Aladzha Manastir cave monastery.

3. Varna Necropolis

This prehistoric archaeological site is home to the oldest processed gold, dating back 7,000 years. This fascinating exhibit can be found at the Archaeological and Historical Museum Varna. It’s open daily (except Mondays) from 10am-5pm. In the summer, it’s open every day. Admission is 10 BGN.

4. Wander Kraybrezhna Aleya

This is a coastal lane that offers beautiful beach views and some of Varna’s hottest and most lively night action. During the summer, there are lots of clubs, restaurants, and bars open — however, most of them are closed later in the year.

5. Pobiti Kamani

Also known as the Stone Forest, this is a natural attraction located about 10 miles southwest of Varna. Years and years ago it was the seabed. There are several large caves that used to be grottos, which are fun to explore and hike through. It costs around 5-11 BGN to get there via bus or train and takes 30-45 minutes.

Other Things to See and Do

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1. Visit the History Museum

Originally built in 1851 as the Belgian Embassy, this embassy- turned hotel-turned prison, and then turned-Museum of the Revolution (it’s had an interesting evolution!), is now an integral piece of history itself. It overlooks the ruins of the Roman baths and is covered in ivy. It rocks. It’s open daily from 10am-5pm (except Mondays, as well as Sundays in the winter).

2. Check out the Ethnographic Museum

Within a revival-era mansion lies one of the most impressive museum collections the country has to offer. There are several displays of agricultural implements and exhibits on wine-making, weaving, and fishing practices from the 19th and 20th centuries. There is also a lot of period furniture, costumes, and jewelry. Admission is 5 BGN and it’s open daily 10am-5pm, except for in the winter when it’s closed Sundays and Mondays.

3. Check out the Zoopark

This little place is home to a range of animals, including wolves, lions, monkeys, a camel, goats, a bear, and various birds. The displays aren’t super impressive and many of the animals are housed in concrete enclosures. Admission is 1.50 BGN. It’s open daily in the summer from 9am-6pm and in the winter it closes at 4:30pm.

4. Go to the Festival and Congress Center

This is one of the most prestigious cultural institutions in the entire Balkan’s region, located on the Black Sea shore (next to the Sea Garden) in the center of the city. It is quite modern-looking and much of the building is set underground. Various festivals, cinema and theater performances, exhibitions, shows, conferences, symposia, and congresses are held here. There is also a handful of restaurants and café-bars here.

5. National Astronomy Observatory

This attraction is host to many neat things including a projection of the solar system in different seasons (and from different points of the world), the Foucault Pendulum, teaching expositions, binoculars, and telescopes for use. Entrance is a mere 5 BGN.

6. Explore the Naval Museum

Varna’s history is tied to the sea, so if that interests you, consider paying a visit to the Naval Museum. The highlight here is the “Drazki,” a destroyer that torpedoed a Turkish cruiser during the Balkan War in 1912. Admission is 2 BGN. The museum is open Tuesday-Sunday from 10am-6pm and Tuesday-Saturday from 9:30am-5:30pm.

7. Go bungee jumping

If you need a thrill, you can try bungee jumping off the 100 foot high Asparuhov Most bridge. Expect to pay around 72 BGN.

8. Grab a drink at Hotel Cherno More

The top floor of this hotel offers the best view of Varna so here to watch an incredible sunset (and have yourself a refreshing drink too!).

Typical Costs

Hostel prices – There aren’t many hostels in Varna, but you can expect to pay 18-20 BGN for a 4-bed dorm and 15 BGN for a dorm with 8-11 beds. A private room with a shared bathroom costs about 45 BGN. The hostels in Varna include linens, WiFi, and breakfast for free.

Budget hotel prices – A room in a 2 or 3-star hotel starts at 35 BGN per night. Hotels at this price range come with a private bathroom, free WiFi, and many offer free breakfast. On Airbnb, shared rooms average around 20 BGN. Entire homes start around 40 BGN and average about 60 BGN.

Average cost of food – There are many good restaurants in the area at very affordable prices. Your cheapest options will be just a few dollars. Budget meals range from 5-15 BGN, while fine dining options cost anywhere from 40-90 BGN. Groceries are about 70 BGN per week for basic groceries like pasta, vegetables, chicken, and other basic foodstuffs.

Transportation costs – A bus ride from Sofia to Varna is 32 BGN. Daily services are available from Sofia, Plovdiv, and Rousse. There is also a direct international train all the way to Kiev (making multiple stops along the way) that departs daily and takes about 35 hours. Varna is covered well by buses and trams, so even if you’re staying outside of the city center, you won’t have much trouble traveling into the city. You can buy a ticket once you board and a single trip will cost you about 1 BGN. There are also lots of taxis, but be sure to check the rate (it should be no more than 1 BGN per km) before riding as you could be overcharged.

Suggested daily budget

65-93 BGN / 35-50 USD (Note: This is a suggested budget assuming you’re staying in a hostel, eating out a little, cooking most of your meals, and using local transportation. Using the budget tips below, you can always lower this number. However, if you stay in fancier accommodation or eat out more often, expect this to be higher!)

Money Saving Tips

Travel during the off-season – June-September is usually the peak summer season in Varna, and when you can expect a large influx of tourists in major centers like Sofia and on the beaches. Airfares, as well as accommodation costs, will be high during this period. Of course, the main appeal of Varna is the beaches, so if that’s what you’re coming for, you may not be able to get around this.

Stay outdoors – Varna is packed with interesting museums, but the best way to take advantage of what the city has to offer without spending too much money is to spend time on the beach, walking along the promenade, and in the city’s parks.

Do a free walking tour – Free Varna Tour is a non-profit tour company that offers fun and educational walking tours around the city. The tours start in front of the Cathedral every day at 6pm, with limited tours given in the winter. This a great way to learn about the city – for free!

Eat at the bakeries – Bakeries in Bulgaria have a great, inexpensive range of pastries and foods which will fill you up in the morning. Two of my favorite snacks there are banica and krenvirshka.

Avoid Sunny Beach – If you’re beach-hopping along the coast, stick to the beaches around Varna and stay clear of Sunny Beach. It may be the most popular option, but I can’t understand the appeal of a beach that’s so expensive and crowded with more beach chairs than sand. Hit up one of the other beaches in Varna proper instead.

Couchsurf – If you plan ahead, you can usually find really nice Couchsurfing hosts all throughout the country. This way, you not only have a place to stay, but you’ll have a local host that can tell you the best places to go and things to see.

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